Paint/Don't Paint New Roof and Jrails on a 59 Shasta?

I like painting the roof white. It's not necessary, but you usually paint the front and rear top half anyway. I bought white roofs for both the Cardinal and the Little Dipper. (seamed)

The J rail looks better mill color in my opinion. It really lets the body shape show and accents the paint. That being said, both of the 57 Shastas did have painted rails. Not now.

Do what makes you happy.

  I say paint your roof. And in regards to rails? I see where a lot of the older camper had painted Jrails and edges from the factory but.. If the trim rail is off. I say go ahead and scratch'em to mill. The Jrails are one of the easy parts of her trim to do this. And yes while, it will grow to a duller finish after exposure and oxidation. So will a few other parts of your restored finishes as well. Some "brand new" spray booth paint jobs, over the rails onto the skin look a little "Lipsticky" to me. Of course some of my approaches may seem lipsticky to others.. I was a rattle can man..

Thanks for all the input, everyone. I've decided to paint the roof and not the Jrails. I'd bet a lot of money that this is the original paint job on my 59 Shasta, and the roof AND the Jrails were both painted. But I, too, like the look of the unpainted trim.

Next dilemma - install dinette windows before or after paint? The rest of the windows will go in after painting, but I can see the case for painting over all those screw heads around the fixed windows so they "disappear" a little better. Thoughts?

Yep paint it with the screws in which means your window will probably be in also. I left my windows out during paint on my 57 and had all the screws in. It was a little tougher to get a seal when I installed the windows. This time I think I will leave the windows in for the paint and just mask. I'm wondering if I should pull the glass seal also for the paint job??? Then re-install it after paint???

Well thats what I did with the 57. I just waited to install the glass and the glass seal until after paint. I got a good seal but had to push really hard on the stops to get the lexan to seal against the glass seal afterwards. I'll probably do it that way again. This time I am using the original glass and not lexan. I don't like the lexan. Scratches too easy. Don't use the screws to make the glass tight for a seal because as soon as the trailer moves the glass will crack. Screw your screws in, then push the glass up against the glass seal with the wooden stops and shoot the stops in while holding pressure on the stops against the glass. Start with the bottom first. Then top, then the two sides. It should seal just fine and the glass should stay intact doing it that way. 

Matt is kinda new down at VTS and doesn't know all the terms yet I guess. It's actually called Glass Seal on the site. Here's the link...

HEHR Standard Glass Seal Gasket... Comes in gray and black. I don't like the black but some people do.

www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Hehr_Standard_Glass_Seal_p/vts-195.htm